The 6th Man 1997

Two brothers Antoine Tyler and Kenny Tyler grow up under their mother’s guiding motto, bold and simple: A&K: All the Way. On a pivotal 1986 night, their father, James Tyler, coaches the pair on the court and urges Kenny to take the final shot. Fear overtakes him at the last moment, and he passes to Antoine, who misses the game-winning attempt. The loss stings, but the moment seeds a shared resilience between the siblings as James reminds them that unity can bend fate and change what seems possible.

In the present, the two brothers are stars of the University of Washington Huskies, celebrated for their chemistry and high-level play. After a big win at a nightclub, Kenny is drawn to R.C. St. John, a UW reporter whose professional curiosity soon borders on something more personal. The team’s path takes a dark turn during a road game at UCLA when Antoine collapses after a spectacular slam dunk, suffering a heart attack. Coach Pederson informs Kenny and the team of Antoine’s death, and the sense of loss ripples through the squad.

With Antoine gone, the Huskies begin to unravel. Kenny clings to hope and prays for a sign from his brother. Soon, odd sequences during games hint that Antoine has not left at all: the ghostly presence of Antoine appears in the locker room, explaining that he stuck around to help the team—and that he’s back because Kenny called him. Some teammates are skeptical, others intrigued, but Antoine’s supernatural interventions become a turning point, persuading players to trust in a higher force guiding their shots, passes, and hustle.

As the team fights its way through the season, Antoine’s influence helps them advance through the NCAA tournament for the first time in more than a decade. Kenny’s relationship with R.C. deepens, even as Antoine’s meddling threatens to derail it, a tension R.C. begins to sense more clearly as she studies game footage and reads the signs. She ultimately confronts Kenny with the truth she’s uncovered: Antoine is guiding the team from beyond, and Kenny risks losing his own life if he lets that hold on him too long.

The Huskies reach the Final Four against Georgetown, where the line between blessing and burden becomes painfully clear. Antoine’s antics injure Jerrod Smith, a close friend of Kenny’s, prompting Kenny to confront the consequences of having a spectral helper at his side. R.C. urges Kenny to let Antoine go if he truly wants to live and to let the living lead the team to victory. Kenny agrees that Antoine needs to step back, but he also asks his brother to stay nearby only as a memory, not as a force that controls the outcome.

With halftime breathing room, Kenny delivers a rallying speech that rekindles their unity and focus. The second half surges forward, and in the closing seconds, Kenny takes the shot himself, securing a hard-won national championship for the Huskies. As the crowd roars, Antoine’s presence lingers just long enough to share a final, quiet moment with his brother before fading away. Coach Pederson observes the farewell, and Kenny honors their long-standing motto, shouting, with a smile and a tear in his eye: A&K all the way.